PA cocaine ring busted

Members of a major drug ring have been arrested, according to PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane, and two of them live in Honesdale. A press release from Kane said that 20 people were arrested on February 22, as part of a two-and-a-half year investigation into the operation.

Kane said the group was involved with bringing about $1.4 million worth of cocaine from Bronx, NY into Northeast PA over the past two years. The Red Maples Golf Course, located in Waymart, PA, was identified as a primary drug distribution point.

Angelo Pozza, 76, of Waymart, in Wayne County, who owned the golf club, was indentified as one of the leaders of the ring.

Catherine Gabriel, 47, of Scott Township in Lackawanna County, was identified as another of the ringleaders, who provided the cocaine to Pozza.

During the course of the investigation, narcotics agents made a series of 14 controlled-substance purchases from Pozza at the Red Maples Golf Course. As the investigation unfolded, court-authorized wiretaps were approved in February 2012, which revealed the scope of the organization and its suppliers.

A grand jury found that Pozza used the golf course as the primary base of operations for the cocaine trafficking operation, and sold a minimum of $300,000 worth of the cocaine.

Pozza and Gabriel were charged with multiple counts of delivery, possession of controlled substances and conspiracy charges.

Kevin Wilson, 50, and Christine Bassett, 43, are listed as living on Sunrise Highway in Honesdale. They and 16 others were also charged with delivery and possession charges.

According to the release, the Office of Attorney General’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section seized more than $48,000, and the nine-hole Red Maples Golf Course, which includes 136 acres, Pozza’s residence, clubhouse and a garage.